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Friday, March 2, 2007
Moore defined by night’s work
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Macon — Only eight minutes into the game, the outcome already had been determined. Collins Hill was going to inch a step closer to defending its state championship, and there was nothing Brookwood could do to prevent it.
The Eagles’ dominance early was decisive, an onslaught that shook the Broncos from their ponytails to their sneakers.
Maya Moore showed why she is the most accomplished athlete — boy or girl — in Georgia. Playing off-the-ball defense, Moore anticipated a pass to a player she was not guarding, intercepted it and fed ahead to teammate Taylor Dalrymple.
Dalrymple bore in for a layup. Trailing the play, running in an all-out sprint, was Moore. Dalrymple missed the shot. There to clean up was the perpetually hustling Moore, who tossed in a left-handed layup at the buzzer. It was 21-4, and that was that.
Moore’s effort and demeanor define her game — and her team. Yes, she has wonderful basketball talent. But it is not what makes her special, a winner. It’s effort and passion and, interestingly enough, her sweetness.
She does not take off on a single play, no matter what the score, what point in the game or who the opponent. She dominates because of skill, but mostly because she works.
“You never see her come to practice not ready to go,” coach Tracey Tipton said. “She’s never complacent, never not trying to get better.”
Above all, no one seems to enjoy the game as much as Moore. She applauds her teammates’ play more than a cheerleader. She bounces around the court as much as she runs.
Guess how many times Tipton has had to check Moore about her ego: “Zero,” Tipton said.
Well, maybe her teammates have had to rein her in.
“Never,” said Dalrymple, the highly skilled junior forward who had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists. “It’s more the other players. Maya’s always a team player. I love it. There’s no one else in the state of Georgia I’d rather play with.”
Which goes back to Moore, the person. Because she is so likeable, her teammates embrace playing complementary roles. And they do it well. Dalrymple, daughter of former Georgia Tech hooper Bruce Dalrymple, will be the star next season.
Senior Jordan Jones is a 3-point specialist. Juniors Lauren Pace and Nikki Urbizo and sophomore Jazmin Walker are guards who are good passers, shooters and defenders.
“It’s pretty amazing that with the level of success Maya has had, there is no air about her,” Tipton said.
Put her career mark up against anyone else’s and see where she ranks. In her time at Collins Hill, the Eagles are 122-3 — no, that’s not a misprint.
“She’s made me a smarter player and a more energetic player,” Dalrymple said. “Her vibe makes you more of a team player. And because of it, we’ve been successful.”
Moore had 26 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in the 64-38 victory. The best part about it was that not only did she have fun amassing those typical statistics, but her teammates enjoyed it, too.
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For Tucker’s Hartry, it’s all about loud
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know James Hartry. Or you’ve seen him. Or heard about him. If not, here’s the introduction.
Hartry is the Tucker High coach with the loudest mouth in the state. The coach with the loudest suits in the state. And the coach with the most heart palpitations in the state.
He coaches a game the way a bowling ball crashes through pins. His voice is always hoarse because he’s always yelling — even when not on the bench.
And guess what: He’s good at what he does. Very good. Thursday night at Marietta High was a case in point. In the Class AAAA second-round game against feisty Lithia Springs, Hartry made the game’s biggest adjustment in an 81-70 victory.
The victory pushed his record to a remarkable 83-9 in the past three years. His teams played in the championship game in 2005 and made the Final Four last season.
This year’s team is more talented and well-rounded, but it was shaky early. Meanwhile, Lithia Springs opened the game as if shot out of a hydraulic. They scratched (literally: See Jeremy Simmons’ face) and scurried and shot from great distance, building as much as a 9-point lead before Tucker shook the jitters.
Problem was, while Hartry was practically bursting blood vessels on the sideline, he calmed his team. And after trailing only by 2 at the break, he instituted a full-court press that rattled the Lions and took their legs from them.
So their jump shots came up short, and Tucker’s inside might with 6-foot-8 Simmons (19 points) and 6-5 Chevy Wilson (25 points) wore down the Lions.
But it was not easy. The Tigers had to overcome too many turnovers, a mind-boggling 22 missed free throws and even a scorebook snafu. With 3:11 left in the game, Hartry was called to the scorer’s table and told that his team’s 10-point lead was just 69-61. Somehow, at that point of the game, two Lithia Springs points appeared.
Hartry was livid. But he kept his composure long enough not to let his team deviate from their fine second-half play. Not until the final seconds did Hartry cease yelling.
“I have a personal relationship with my guys,” he said, explaining his tirades. “When I let them see that side of me, they know I’m not happy, and they tend to respond to it.
“Half the time,” he adds, laughing, “I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
He was so animated earlier this season that he had to miss a game because of a rapid heartbeat. Part of the reason for Hartry’s craze this year is his team. It is richly talented, but highly uninspired. Sometimes his players’ cool nicely offsets his rantings.
“We’ve been here before,” Simmons said. “We might have been too relaxed early, but we still kept our calm when they got [ahead]. And you see the results.”
Lithia Springs put up an admirable fight. Coach Jason Slate is very solid — and nearly as fiery as Hartry. But that’s where the similarities end. Slate’s game attire Thursday: khakis, work boots, a flannel shirt and sweater vest.
Hartry sweated out a suit and tie, cuff-links and alligator shoes.
No matter to him. If you know Hartry at all, you know it’s all about teaching young men and winning for him — in that order.
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